Sitting on a smooth patch on a pile of rubble, Virgil Bates stared into the sun. This cannot be good for my eyes, Virgil thought, hoping he looked stoic and visionary. Maybe this is why I need glasses, fifty odd years of looking directly into the sun, minus the years he had the kaleidoscope of course. Had they found the doctor? It felt like they had. Now became the awkward phase in which the situation would be re-evaluated.
Ursa and her bear would be fine going their own way. She never really needed us in the first place. I had never doubted that Mercury would find his Targett and I’d put my money on the man with silver eyes in the bleakest situations. But what will he do his reason for living is gone? I’d like to think we’ve grown on him enough for him to stick around, I see him talking to Kid A occasionally.
I have been mistreating the boy. He acted out once and I became vindictive and childish. I was the first to speak out on behalf of this odd looking child and yet I’ve connected with him the least. Winnie and the kid are inseparable, making Ursa act as a defacto caretaker. Looking at the boy hurts me though, very deeply. I am sure now I’ve had children of my own, because of a strong need to protect and provide for. But I also feel jaded and disconnected. Maybe I have a teenager? Maybe we should give the scamp a real name.
And what about the others? Brewnuar will return to his home no doubt or maybe he’ll make up with his family. Victor wants to return to his motherland, he describes it so vividly, even though he’s lived his whole life here. Grokkthrakk would be happy just wandering into the wilderness. V.R. will have some plan, my guess he’ll start an empire and annex Emerald Mall.
I wonder if my child is like me, or if they take after their mother. Pondering furiously as fluffy clouds roll past, I conclude that either option would be exemplary. Perhaps retracing my steps will shed some light on this conundrum. I remember being kicked out of the Grounds when I was but a young lad, Leon was doubtlessly behind it. My brother has always been power-mad and devoid of conscious or morals. I probably should have let him ride the bike more when we were kids.
I wandered the wastes for a few months; it took some getting used to. I grew up among affluence, law, and civilization, completely protected. I think it was a week out before I was beaten and robbed blind. I had studied law and religion, useless skills, if my father had not taught me how to hunt on our few outing together I would have perished in a fortnight.
My father was a daunting man, someone to be feared and respected. But I saw how tired he was. Late at night when the wind doesn’t blow so hard I wish he let me become banished to save me from whatever fate tormented him. Mom probably. Leon took after her. He’ll definitely raise our family’s status. Dad didn’t care about politics enough, Mom would say. I’d like to think he was happy when we were out in the brush shooting animals at least.
Maybe one day I’ll take Mercury out to teach him how to shoot. It’s not like he needs it, but we first bonded over a shooting match, so why not? Kid should come too, he’d learn some life lessons. Ursa shouldn’t be left out either, we could make a day of it. What am I thinking? That we’re some loving family who should go on picnics and not a rag-tag group of misfits brought together out of mutual benefit? I fear I am trying to replace my almost definitely real loved ones who are my real family with real people who are a fake family.
That’s why I never even asked Ursa if she had ever been married to me. I usually ask everyone just to be safe. But that giant beast lumbered alongside her and I knew it was impossible. I do not feel comfortable around animals, it wasn’t always this way. I am positive I had a dog named Rufus so I liked creatures as a boy. Something must have happened around when I saved the world.
That was the reason I couldn’t fathom when I had a kid, because saving the world is no place for a babe. I’ve been wandering around with a gang of murderous thrill-seekers or along looking for my wife for as long as I can remember. The me that was a father is as much a stranger to me as who my wife is. Doubtless she’s beautiful, really no question. I could have just left it with my wife but I wouldn’t miss all the firsts, would I? No, not for the world.
V.R. or Victor could just walk away from a family, they were heartless. Brewnuar already pushed what family he had out of his life. Grokkthrakk even said that as Cannibal King of Seattle he had a harem, and that he threw children not bred up to snuff out in the desert to be killed or raised by wolves. A veritable cards, those.
The sun is lower in the sky now, how long had I been daydreaming? Maybe I’ll find my old friends one day but Ursa and Mercury might be looking for me right now. I wonder what they’ve been up to? Better go check, I’ve miles to go before I sleep. Is that how it goes? Brushing the dust off his frayed slacks, Virgil hums to himself as he climbs over the rubble back to the hospital.
Sitting on a smooth patch on a pile of rubble, Virgil Bates stared into the sun. This cannot be good for my eyes, Virgil thought, hoping he looked stoic and visionary. Maybe this is why I need glasses, fifty odd years of looking directly into the sun, minus the years he had the kaleidoscope of course. Had they found the doctor? It felt like they had. Now became the awkward phase in which the situation would be re-evaluated.
Ursa and her bear would be fine going their own way. She never really needed us in the first place. I had never doubted that Mercury would find his Targett and I’d put my money on the man with silver eyes in the bleakest situations. But what will he do his reason for living is gone? I’d like to think we’ve grown on him enough for him to stick around, I see him talking to Kid A occasionally.
I have been mistreating the boy. He acted out once and I became vindictive and childish. I was the first to speak out on behalf of this odd looking child and yet I’ve connected with him the least. Winnie and the kid are inseparable, making Ursa act as a defacto caretaker. Looking at the boy hurts me though, very deeply. I am sure now I’ve had children of my own, because of a strong need to protect and provide for. But I also feel jaded and disconnected. Maybe I have a teenager? Maybe we should give the scamp a real name.
And what about the others? Brewnuar will return to his home no doubt or maybe he’ll make up with his family. Victor wants to return to his motherland, he describes it so vividly, even though he’s lived his whole life here. Grokkthrakk would be happy just wandering into the wilderness. V.R. will have some plan, my guess he’ll start an empire and annex Emerald Mall.
I wonder if my child is like me, or if they take after their mother. Pondering furiously as fluffy clouds roll past, I conclude that either option would be exemplary. Perhaps retracing my steps will shed some light on this conundrum. I remember being kicked out of the Grounds when I was but a young lad, Leon was doubtlessly behind it. My brother has always been power-mad and devoid of conscious or morals. I probably should have let him ride the bike more when we were kids.
I wandered the wastes for a few months; it took some getting used to. I grew up among affluence, law, and civilization, completely protected. I think it was a week out before I was beaten and robbed blind. I had studied law and religion, useless skills, if my father had not taught me how to hunt on our few outing together I would have perished in a fortnight.
My father was a daunting man, someone to be feared and respected. But I saw how tired he was. Late at night when the wind doesn’t blow so hard I wish he let me become banished to save me from whatever fate tormented him. Mom probably. Leon took after her. He’ll definitely raise our family’s status. Dad didn’t care about politics enough, Mom would say. I’d like to think he was happy when we were out in the brush shooting animals at least.
Maybe one day I’ll take Mercury out to teach him how to shoot. It’s not like he needs it, but we first bonded over a shooting match, so why not? Kid should come too, he’d learn some life lessons. Ursa shouldn’t be left out either, we could make a day of it. What am I thinking? That we’re some loving family who should go on picnics and not a rag-tag group of misfits brought together out of mutual benefit? I fear I am trying to replace my almost definitely real loved ones who are my real family with real people who are a fake family.
That’s why I never even asked Ursa if she had ever been married to me. I usually ask everyone just to be safe. But that giant beast lumbered alongside her and I knew it was impossible. I do not feel comfortable around animals, it wasn’t always this way. I am positive I had a dog named Rufus so I liked creatures as a boy. Something must have happened around when I saved the world.
That was the reason I couldn’t fathom when I had a kid, because saving the world is no place for a babe. I’ve been wandering around with a gang of murderous thrill-seekers or along looking for my wife for as long as I can remember. The me that was a father is as much a stranger to me as who my wife is. Doubtless she’s beautiful, really no question. I could have just left it with my wife but I wouldn’t miss all the firsts, would I? No, not for the world.
V.R. or Victor could just walk away from a family, they were heartless. Brewnuar already pushed what family he had out of his life. Grokkthrakk even said that as Cannibal King of Seattle he had a harem, and that he threw children not bred up to snuff out in the desert to be killed or raised by wolves. A veritable cards, those.
The sun is lower in the sky now, how long had I been daydreaming? Maybe I’ll find my old friends one day but Ursa and Mercury might be looking for me right now. I wonder what they’ve been up to? Better go check, I’ve miles to go before I sleep. Is that how it goes? Brushing the dust off his frayed slacks, Virgil hums to himself as he climbs over the rubble back to the hospital.